London 2012 Olympics: Great Britain's tears flow after Canada end Games women dream

At the end of the game, of the journey, Steph Houghton broke down in tears.
She had given everything during Team GB’s ride to the quarter-finals,
scoring three times, and then pushed her body to the limit as she tried in
vain to keep her Olympic dream alive. But Canada were too good, too strong.

Down and out: Team GB's Steph Houghton looks dejected after losing to CanadaPhoto: EPA

At the final whistle, the frustration bit deep into Houghton and company. They knew they had disappointed, failing to repeat the bravura display that accounted for Brazil at Wembley. They knew that a semi-final place would have been gold-dust in promoting their sport further.

“We didn’t accomplish what we set out to,’’ observed Kelly Smith. “We’ve broken these records, inspired a lot of people but we didn’t get a medal. We fell short and all the players are hurting.

“I will look back and reflect on what a great ride we had, what a great journey. We are Olympians and no one can take that away from us.”

Great Britain had been hampered by Smith’s failure to shake off a knock picked up in that bruising win over Brazil.

Ellen White started in attack but was unable to disturb Canada’s well-organised defence.

Hope Powell’s backline was poor in comparison, conceding set-piece goals to Jonelle Filigno and Christine Sinclair, who deservedly carried Canada through to what should be a lively semi-final with the United States.

The victors joined the vanquished on the lap of honour in front of roughly 15,000 fans who had stayed on to show their appreciation. They also directed a brief flurry of boos at the Japanese referee, Sachiko Yamagishi, who had failed to award the hosts a clear penalty when Rhian Wilkinson brought down Eni Aluko.

There were no remonstrations from Powell or her players.

“It was a penalty but we’ve been beaten by a better team,’’ said Karen Carney. “Yes, the referee wasn’t very good but you can’t focus on that. The referee turns up, you give them respect and let them get on with it.

“We’ve got a lot of fans now and I want to be a role model. We get a lot of positive feedback saying ‘we don’t dive, we don’t swear as much as the men’, so if that’s something they like, we have to continue to do that and be respectful. Even if we had harassed the referee, she wouldn’t have given it, so why bother?

“My mother taught me from 12 years old to show referees respect. I have a five-year-old niece Keira so I’d hate to be a bad role model for her.

“I took her out on the pitch afterwards to enjoy all the Olympic experience. It’s about a legacy, and I look at her and it’s about her and all the other girls like her.

“We’ve just shown there is a market out there and that’s the thing people have never believed.

“The fact that 70,000 people turned up to a game, we sold out here tonight and if we’d progressed, we’d have sold out Old Trafford. So when people say ‘women’s football, you can’t get crowds’, the fact is you can.

“Now they know about our players. There are role models here, there are superstars.”

Tears briefly rolled down Carney’s face. “I broke down when I saw my family,” said Carney. “I couldn’t give any more, I couldn’t run any more, and every player would say the same.”

Powell focused on the positives. “ The players should be extremely proud,’’ said the GB coach. “They have won over a lot of fans. “They have to hold their heads up high. The next time they play for their countries or clubs they should remember they are history-makers, they are now Olympians.”

The women’s game must beware a dip after all these adrenalin rushes in front of vast and appreciative audiences.

The crowd of 28,828 was still short of the Ricoh football record of 31,407 so at least Coventry City still hold the record in their own ground (although pedants will point out that Coldplay attracted 40,000).

Sadly there was to be no Paradise for Team GB following a dreadful start.

Powell’s side were two goals adrift within 27 minutes. Maybe they had been drained physically and emotionally by their huge exertions against Brazil but their usual concentration was awry at set-pieces.

First Sophie Schmidt angled a corner to the unmarked Filigno, who scored with a marvellous first-time shot.

Great Britain’s wall then failed to jump when Sinclair swept in a free-kick. The great adventure was coming to an end.